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Thomas J. "Thom"
Berry
NORNORTH HORNELL-Thomas J. "Thom"
Berry, 58, passed away early Thursday morning (Jan. 3, 2008) in the
presence of his loving family, at his home at 476 Cleveland Ave.
after a 10 year valiant fight with cancer.
Born in Hornell on Aug. 7, 1949, he was a son of the late Herbert
and Mary Kelly Berry.
A resident of Hornell before moving to North Hornell 18 years ago,
Thom was a graduate of St. Ann's School, where he was a member of
the Scapular Society. He was a member of the football team at
Hornell High School, where he graduated from with the class of 1967.
While in high school he was the world famous drummer for the
legendary band the "Soul Agents." He also attended Corning Community
College.
He was employed with the NYSDOT in Hornell for 34 years and retired
as an engineer five years ago.
Thom was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was a
communicant of St. Ann's Church in Hornell. He was a Fourth Degree
member and past Grand Knight of Hornell Council No. 243, Knights of
Columbus; a past president of the Hornell Little League and a member
of the Twin Hickory Golf Club, where he happened to meet the love of
his life, the former Cynthia "Cindy" Knapp who he married in Hornell
on Dec. 9, 1989.
An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed canoeing, mountain climbing, scuba
diving and cross country skiing. He will be remembered for being the
ultimate family man and a loving husband, father, brother,
son-in-law, brother-in-law and uncle as well as being considered a
"secondary father" to many children in Hornell.
His family includes his wife of 18 years, Cindy; his three children,
Nicolette, Thomas and Suzanne "Suzie Q" all of North Hornell; his
two brothers, Kelly "Biff" (Jeana) Berry of Elkhart, Ind. and
Patrick Berry of Euliss, Tx.; his two sisters, Carolyn (Marc) Rawady
of Alfred and Barbara (Nigel) Perrott of Hornell; his father-in-law
and mother-in-law, Richard and Suzanne Knapp of Hornell; his two
brothers-in-law, Clint (Dawn) Knapp of Nunda and Theron (Yuli) Knapp
of Shenzhen, China; his sister-in-law, Tracy (Tom) Cassidy of
Birdsall; his aunt, Edna Sheridan of Southold; also his nieces,
nephews, cousins and his beloved dogs that he adored, Gizmo and
Bootsie.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his granddaughter,
Gillian and his beloved dog, McGruff.
Calling hours are from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Sunday at the Bishop &
Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Friends are
invited to meet his family at St. Ann's Church, where a Mass of
Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday. Committal
prayers and interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, town of
Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to
either the Wilmont Cancer Center at Strong Memorial Hospital, 601
Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642 or to Southern Tier Hospice, 11751
East Corning Rd., Corning, NY 14830.
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